Lee Piper's Blog - Posts Tagged "sybil-bartel"

Grind by Sybil Bartel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Not many people would describe the relationship between a hired gun and an abused submissive as beautiful. Luckily, I'm not most people. But if there is one word which encapsulates the complexity of Dane and Irina's relationship, it is this.

For the record, I love Bartel's commentary on beauty. You see, according to the hero, Dane, Irina is never more beautiful than when he first sees her, and I mean, really sees her. She is on his kitchen floor, broken, hurt and confused. But he looks past this. To him, she is a survivor. The reader soon learns Irina has experienced the depravity of cruel intentions, she has become the product of years of emotional and physical abuse. Yet, she craves more for herself, despite not believing she deserves it. Now that is the definition of beauty.

On the other hand, it can be argued that the heroine finds beauty in truth. The ugly, complex, horrifying truth. Often, she attempts to hide from it, to shut down when faced with it, hoping to protect herself from the pain associated with vulnerability. However, Dane sees past her deflections, he understands what is withheld and their connection therefore becomes a thing of beauty in itself.

Now, of course the sex in this book is molten—Sybil is a master at this. Of course the dialogue is fast paced, the secondary characters are well developed and the action scenes are intense. There is no denying it, this novel is brilliantly crafted. But it is the main characters which really steal the spotlight in Grind. It is their ability to tear you apart before piecing you back together again which will have you glued to your Kindle.

Read it, embrace it. You’ll be glad you did.

Lee Piper is an Evernight Publishing bestselling author. Rock My World, Book #1 in the Mondez series and Rock My Body, Book #2 are available now. You can find all of this information and more on her website: www.leepiperauthor.com




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André by Sybil Bartel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Sybil Bartel is a one click author. It’s as simple as that. And Andre, her latest novel in the Uncompromising Series… *sighs* Is good. Like, really, really good.

Take one smokin’ hot Cuban alpha, a sassy spitfire who is more broken than whole, a heavily armed cult, and a security firm intent on bringing it to justice, and you have everything you need for an epic binge reading session.

I know, right? What an awesome premise for a romantic suspense.

Let’s take a moment to focus on heroine, Kendall Reed. Now, there are many authors who attempt to write ‘broken’ MC’s. There are many who fall short because rather than draw the reader in, the abrasiveness of the character repels them instead. Bartel, however, manages to tease empathy not only from the reader, but from the hero and minor characters as well. Yes, Kendall is defensive and abrupt. Yes, she is unapologetic at times. But damn, the fact she is still standing after being served what is arguably the most challenging hand life could possibly throw at a person, says everything about her courage. A courage she never trusted. A courage she never believed in. Until Andre.

Cue ovaries exploding in three … two … one.

Boom. Gone.

Prepare to be glued to your Kindle. Prepare for sparks to shoot from your device. Prepare to have your heart ripped open only to have it sewn back together again.

Prepare for one hell of a read.




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Lee Piper is an Evernight Publishing bestselling author. Rock My World, Book #1 in the Mondez series and Rock My Body, Book #2 are available now. You can find all of this information and more on her website: www.leepiperauthor.com

Bennett by Sybil Bartel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I didn’t think it was possible to improve on Sybil Bartel’s, previous release. I mean, how can anyone pen a more perfect alpha hero than Cuban ex-marine, Andre? Turns out, you can. And Bennett, book four in the Uncompromising Series is… *swoons* EVERYTHING.

Dominant? Check.
Protective? Check.
Drummer? Check.
Hot af? Check.
Martial arts expert? Check.
Determined to claim his woman? Check.

There are not enough panties in the world to survive this book. There are not enough hours in the day or batteries in your Kindle.

You. Will. Read. It. In. One. Sitting.

Why? Because it’s that damn good. Because the pacing, rising tension, chemistry—sweet Lord, the chemistry—will draw you in and keep you captive. Even when you turn the last page, you will frantically search through Bartel’s backlog in a bid to exist in her world for a bit longer.

Such is the power of her writing.

And this book is dark, there is no doubt about it. It touches on subjects which will trigger some readers. However, coexisting beside the characters as they navigate through their reality is both an honor and a privilege. No, I’m not glorifying these horrors, I’m respecting the fact they are written about honestly.

Regardless of the sensitive subject matter, the characters, their relationships, and their deservedness for a happily ever after will keep you transfixed. Your will devour every word, you will sigh deep sighs, intermittently reach for the tissues, and find yourself grinning by the end.

You will LOVE Bennett.



***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review***
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Callan by Sybil Bartel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Sybil Bartel never disappoints. Ever. And Callan, (The Uncompromising Series Book 5) is one of the best military romances I’ve read in a looooooong time. Okay, since Bennett (The Uncompromising Series Book 4) released. And yes, my ovaries are still recovering. Thanks for asking.

You see, I’d been in a reading slump. To be fair, it was my own fault. I went too hard reading Bennett and suddenly the gazillion and one books left on my Kindle did absolutely nothing for me. Nothing forced me to stay awake past crazy o’clock because I was literally going to implode if I didn’t find out what happened between the hero and heroine.

Until Callan.

Sweet Lord, I want his babies. I don’t care if he never utters a contraction throughout the entire novel, I don’t care if he disregards social conventions surrounding step-siblings, I don’t care if he takes his sweet ass time in melting my iPad. I. Don’t. Care. Because somehow he straddles the fine line between vulnerability and alpha, and it is this which kept me turning the pages.

When was the last time you read a book where the hero murmurs ovulation-inducing dialogue? When was the last time he held a rifle while doing it? And when was the last time he went hunting, holding said rifle, while talking directly to your lady-eggs?

Exactly.

Sybil Bartel has done it again. She’s ruined me for all other alphas.




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Scandalous by Sybil Bartel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


To be honest, I was hesitant in starting, Scandalous (The Alpha Bodyguard, #1). Not because I thought it wouldn’t live up to my expectations, but because I knew it would surpass them.

You see, Sybil Bartel knows how to craft alphas. Her heroes are a romance reader’s wet dream. They’re what women (and some men) conjure in their deepest, darkest fantasies. Bartel’s heroes are unapologetic, uncompromising, and so freaking hot, they need to come with some form of signage—a warning label will do.

So, when faced with Scandalous, I was like, “Sybil can’t pen a more alpha, alpha. It’s not possible. Wait, is it possible? Sweet baby Jesus, the woman’s going to kill me.”

And she did.

From the very first line, Falcon ‘Tank’ Gunther owned the narrative. Heck, he owned my ovaries. The dialogue, the imagery, the sex—holy Hades, the sex! Smokin’ hot doesn’t begin to describe it. And Audrina is the perfect heroine, the perfect blend of sass and chaos to bring a man like Tank to his knees.

I’m still recovering from this book. It’s going to take me a long time to recover from this mother of all book hangovers. Maybe Sybil Bartel needs to start a support group? You know, Alpha Addiction Anonymous or something? Lord knows, nothing but book #2 in the Alpha Bodyguard Series is going to help.

Bring on Reckless.




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